22-23 The Whirlwind - Issue 6

BACK

CONTENTS NEWS

Breaking the Bank: How will district budget cuts affect our school? 04

Down West: Debunking the rumors about the “bomb shelter” underneath the school 05

OPINION

Tag It or Leave It: The art of graffiti 06

SPORTS

Staying on Pace: Exploring the world of fitness trackers 08

Fit for the Summer: How student athletes stay actie outside of their season 09

ENTERTAINMENT

The Final Show: 10

Behind the Scenes: Appreciating all of the people who make theatre productions happen 11

FEATURES

Childhood Rewind: Seniors look back at their life as a kid 14

Class of ‘23 by the Numbers: Statistics and data from the senior class 16

Growing Up and Giving Back: Featuring two seniors with unique jobs 17

Connecting the Dots: Graduating seniors share final reflections 18

Cover | Class of 2029 Future Bulldog Miles Timm

Photo Credit | Joe Wagner and Mollie Brown

EDITORS’ NOTE

Elementary school is exciting and new, with kids surrounded by people, material, and ideas as they grow. It’s the longest stage of a child’s schooling, giving time for a teacher to nurture and grow each child in the six years they are there. Once a child graduates fifth grade, they move onto the next part of schooling.

Middle school. It’s the shortest stage of a teenager’s schooling, where children go through confusing emotions and feelings that are hard for them to fully comprehend or understand. Children begin to become independent from their parents, hanging out with other kids and seeing what this new world has to offer. Once they reach the end of middle school, only one last part of required schooling is left: high school.

After being guided through the world in elementary and then learning how to keep

WHAT A TIME TO GRADUATE

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS

Blue Level:

Terrie Hogan

Tacha Worth

Gold Level:

Sarah Whiteside

Bulldog Level:

Bill and Debbie Origer

walking on their own in middle school, high school is the stage where they take what they have learned and take larger strides toward their future.

It’s also easy to break up the stages of high school: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.

Freshmen are new to the experience of being in high school, finding their footing among their more experienced peers.

Sophomore year is when students begin to figure it out, realizing the independence and responsibility they are beginning to gain as they grow closer and closer to becoming upperclassmen.

Junior year is often the hardest year, as it is when they have more responsibility, expectations, and classes they need to take. This is the year before becoming a senior, the final stage of a child’s base education.

Subscribers:

Eleanor Peterson

Robert Brown

Linda Brown

Susan Dean

Allyson Dean

Robert Wong

Annie Haynes

Kathy Haynes

Bobbie Lee

Derek Whiteside

Laura South

Patricice Kight

Senior year is often filled with the knowledge that graduation inches closer and closer every single day. Dances, activities, events, everything marks the end of the year that is marching closer and closer. Senior activities begin popping up like senior skip day, senior All-Night party, junior and senior prom, all foretelling the date these children have fully moved through their schooling and into their new life.

After high school, it’s up to the former students to find where they must go next. This is where the seniors of 2023 have found themselves, leaving behind their schools to pursue the rest of their lives.

Gigi Roldan and Mollie Brown, Fredrick Wagner, and Ming Wong

The Whirlwind Editors in Chief

INTERESTED IN SPONSORING?

The Whirlwind, West Albany High School’s student news publication, is seeking sponsors for this school year. Whirlwind provides a unique service to the school community, covering news and issues related to the WAHS student body. Sponsoring The Whirlwind is a way to show your support for the civic engagement, open dialogue, critical thinking and free exercise of expression that good student journalism encourages. Any individual or business can sponsor The Whirlwind. Sponsorship does not indicate endorsement of the views or opinions expressed in The Whirlwind. Contact us at wahswhirlwind@gmail.com

Editors-In-Chief

Gigi Roldan

Frederick Wagner

Ming Wong

Mollie Brown

News

Legend Engberg

Opinion

Avneet Dhaliwal

A’Shyia Swensen

Special

Helen Whiteside

Sports

Hailey Miles

Arts & Entertainment

Marshall Hamel

Staff

Julia Berg

Jesus Cisneros-Obledo

Mina Clower

Edson S. Conn

Scotty Cummings

Tiana Harris

Fine Janzen

Oliver Kidd

Emi Ludlow

Cadence McAllaster

Yesenia Rosas

Fraser Scott

Kayla Stefan

Ishan Vashisht

Taylour Veith

Bri White

Mika Winder

Adviser

Michelle Balmeo

THE WHIRLWIND is a dedicated student forum. Content and editorial decisions are made by student staff members exercising their rights as protected by the First Amendment and the Oregon Student Free Expression Law (Ore. Rev. Stat. sec. 336.477 (2007)). Opinions are those of The Whirlwind staff and not West Albany High School or the Greater Albany Public School District.

Subterranean Reality

MISCONCEPTIONS, MYTHS, AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TUNNELS UNDER THE SCHOOL

By Joe Wagner, Legend Engberg, and Marshall Hamel

It may be a surprise to some, but everyday students are walking over a tunnel system which lays hidden beneath the hallways of West Albany High School, and it is unsurprisingly surrounded by rumors and mystery.

The tunnels match up to every hallway in the old portion of the school, with the exception of E-Hall. The tunnels do not go beyond the boundaries of the hallways.

The tunnels have been around since the original construction of the school, so they have been around for the past 70 years, and the purpose of the tunnels is a little anticlimactic.

Mike Guilliot, a district employee and a heating and air conditioning professional, has been working with the tunnels for the past 16 years, and the system is in place for almost one reason.

“One of the main uses [of the tunnels] is to move air through the building,” Guilliot said. While the tunnels are also full of various water lines for

classrooms, it’s also home to the sewer line.

HOW IT WORKS

WEST ALBANY WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SEEN [THE UNDERGROUND HVAC SYSTEM]. “

And despite the tunnels being as old as they are, over the past decades only one part has been replaced. That piece acts as a controller for the fans that connect to the roof. The fans previously only had an on or off function, which wasn’t energy efficient in any way.

Now staff can control the strength of the fans in order to match outside temperatures. The old part used to be a pressure controlled pneumatic system.

One of the most common myths about the tunnels is that they connect to the other schools in the district. West Albany, Calapooia, and Memorial all have tunnel systems, or also known as the “pits,” or the “crawls.”

“West Albany was the first time I had seen [the underground HVAC system],” Guilliot said. It’s uncommon for such a small town to have anything like what Albany has.

TUNNEL MISCONCEPTIONS

Students share their guesses about the tunnels, which are all false.

Visit wahswhirlwind.com to view a video tour of the tunnel system.

“I THINK IT’S LIKE A BOMB SHELTER BASICALLY.”

“IT’S A HIDING PLACE FOR THE STUDENTS IF A NUKE WENT OFF.”

FRESHMAN VINCENT FARNSWORTH SOPHOMORE COOPER BURDICK

A hood on the roof of the building blocks contaminated air from entering the building.

The air is pulled through a set of heated water coils that cleans the air coming into the tunnels. The air is pulled by an ancient fan system.

The tunnels act as a pressurized space. The air is automatically pushed into classrooms from the ground through the unit above as air enters the space

“THEY’RE PROBABLY FOR STAFF, JUST TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER CERTAIN THINGS.”

JUNIOR ALYSSA SCHRAM

JULY AND AUGUST 2022

According to Superintendent Andy Gardener at the May 17 budget comittee meeting, bank account statements had not been reconciled for 18 months. The district faced this and other challenges in establishing the current fiscal picture and using it to establish next year’s budget in a short amount of time.

MARCH AND APRIL 2023

Input was taken from district leadership and there were difficulties creating firm numbers, as surprise costs occurred regularly.

MAY 17, 2023

The district leadership presented a proposal budget to the Budget Committee. They had a survey to see where their priorities for setting the budget was before deciding anything and decided that many agreed that the number one priority was staffing and increasing salary.

MAY 24, 2023

The school board held the second public Budget Committee meeting. The superintendent and district leaders responded to questions submitted by the committee. In the last five minutes, they voted to approve the budget as proposed.

MAY 31, 2023

The Budget Committee will approve the budget if it is necessary to do so. The meeting will be at the Disctrict Office at 7 p.m. and it is open to the public.

JUNE 12, 2023

The School Board will hold a budget hearing at Oak Grove Elementary at 7 p.m. and it is open to the public

Breaking The Bank

The GAPS school district and many others are facing budget cuts leading up to the 20232024 school year. Looking at the GAPS proposed budget, the school district only has an allotted 122.2 million. This number, however, is uncertain, as it is only an estimate. This comes to a shortfall of 3.6 million from the estimated necessary budget if nothing changes.

According to Principal Susie Orsborn the school has to prepare for certain cuts, leading to two certified teachers having to be let go. Each teacher at the school teaches six and a half year-long classes, which is equivalent to 13 semester-long classes. That would be a total of 13 semester classes being dropped per staff member. Along with this, four and a half hours of classified staff will be cut. This means classified staff hours are going to be removed, which includes some of the classes as well. Classified staff are people who aren’t teachers and are a necessary part of a student’s education.

Success classes will also have to be cut. These classes help students catch up and get the necessary credits to graduate from high school. Without these courses it will be harder for students who are behind to easily make up the credits they need to graduate.

The state funding for public schools has been set to 9.9 billion, which is 0.4

Oregon General Fund Forcast

2021-23

JUNE 26, 2023

The School Board will adopt the budget at the Disctric Office at 6 p.m. and it is open to the public

Source: Oregon Office of Economic Analyisis

2023-25

billion dollars under the recommended budget of 10.3 billion dollars. This has led to budget cuts around the state as schools are planning the next year’s budget.

At the budget committee meeting on May 17, the district leadership presented the results of a survey to determine priorities before talking about deciding what the budget would be used on. Many of the board members voted mangaing staffing teachers and raising salary are a priority. The district leadership also discussed some problems they were having earlier in the year and in the year before.

At the meeting that took place on May 24, they discussed submitted questions about the decrease in budget funds. Many topics were touched on and one of the questions answered affirmed that counselors will remain in the budget. Toward the end of the May 24 meeting a member of the public addressed the committee, complaining vocally that members of the public present at the meeting had expected to have an opporunity to provide input on the budget since that was the stated purpose of the meeting. However, after a brief recess, the comittee reconvened and voted to approve the proposed budget as presented.

2027-29

2025-27

2029-31

4

Story by Kayla Stefan and Julia Berg

Tag It LeaveorIt

HOW GRAFITTI IS UNDERAPPRECIATED AS AN ART FORM

Story by A’Shyia Swensen

Photography by Miles Wilson and Joe Wagner

Photo by Miles Wilson

To create is to destroy. Art takes something and transforms it into a new concept, like alchemy, but in doing this it must take something away. Sometimes destruction is the art itself. Sometimes change is necessary.

One Chinese artist named Ai WeiWei made an art piece of a series of three photos taken of himself in the process of intentionally dropping a priceless artifact. This set of photos is called Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995). The outraged public chastised him for destroying the urn, but he countered with a message that Mao Zedong and the Chinese communist party had been telling people around the time the photos were taken:

coming simplified as much as they can to increase consumers. Unfortunately, art that nobody loves but nobody hates isn’t interesting.

Seeing a pop of color and expressive linework, art with something to say that makes conscious choices, especially a piece somewhere you wouldn’t expect, is interesting. It’s what art should do. With art largely becoming seen as something to monopolize and sell, it’s heartwarming to see that art still exists for fun despite the rules.

OPINION

“The only way to create a new world is by destroying the old one”- WeiWei’s message was about respect for the past. Despite the destruction of art, new art was made, and a message brought to the surface through controversy. This is similar to the art of graffiti.

Some forms of vandalism include tags and other drawings or writing on walls, stalls, and in the halls. A lot of students have original tags, which promote an individual and where they’ve been. But some of the messages are just vandalism. Many are messages that are offensive to students. Many damage already existing art such as murals which are permitted by the town. People have to remove these works and pay for it out of their own pocket, such as business owners.

WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT FOR

While this seems harmless to the student, they can face disciplinary action. Custodians must clean up after the students. The types of materials used are difficult to clean sometimes and can’t be erased. There’s a difference between van dalism and graffiti. Vandalism is meant to deface the public with slurs, gang insignia, and hatespeech, whereas graf fiti adds to the space positively, which is very possible. This art can be a nuisance, but many people have a different opinion on where the line is drawn between vandalism and graffi ti. Graffiti artists mostly view their actions as harmless and expressive, while many others view graffiti as disrespectful and rude. Despite public backlash, graffiti has many redeeming qualities.

Graffiti is something absolutely refreshing in a world where designs are becoming more and more sleek and minimalist. It’s visible in logos and other sellable art. Designs are be

Graffiti also represents the truth of a place. As a generally illegal art form, it shows rebellion against unfair systems and any qualms the public has with an area no matter what that may be. San Francisco is covered in graffiti, which only adds to the atmosphere. Within the foggy city lays Clarion Alley, a line of wall dedicated to legal graffiti and murals which call attention to important issues. Some of these pieces protest against things like gentrification and raise awareness of societal problems like the opioid crisis. Think of how much art benefits the public. Instead of having a shabby looking, trash littered back alley, in its place lies creativity and heart. How

North Albany Trashcan by Joe Wagner

21%

OF AMERICANS USE A WEARABLE ACCORDING TO A 2019 PEW RESEARCH SURVEY

Former cross country coach Blain Willard says that when a race begins distance runners will often begin to start their watches; for Wcross country and track runner, sophomore Bethany Doggett, this rings true. Doggett, who owns a Garmin, got her fitness tracker as a gift from her parents, and while she doesn’t see it as a necessity, both Doggett and Willard see them as a tool that can help with performance.

For Doggett, the device has helped her push herself when her pace is slower than where she would like to be, making it a tool to keep her focused and motivated.

“I’d say there’s a small advantage for training, like staying on track,” she said. “But when it comes down to it, if I beat someone in a race, it’s not because of the watch. It doesn’t make me faster, but it’s definitely helpful and beneficial in giving me the tools I need to be faster. To train more.”

Swimmer, junior Kyle Whittier, has had a similar experience, saying his Apple Watch has provided him with data that has allowed him to target areas that need improvement in his workouts. This data has also helped him in being more knowledgeable about the intensity of a workout and knowing when to take a break.

“ I’ve come to view my workouts in a much more statistical sense.

“I think that for me personally, if I don’t have a set of numbers in front of me it can be easy to generalize or lose sight of my goals,” he said, “and the numbers for me personally really help me to stay on track and see if I’m improving or not improving.”

While Doggett does say it’s helpful to see her progress and growth in running, she has transitioned from being attentive to the data her fitness tracker provides to using it as a guide, given its lack of capability to record certain workouts.

“I do strength training, stretching, other types of activity that are not just running at a certain pace that all contribute to fitness,” she said, “but you can’t really re-

STAYING ON PACE

THE IMPACT WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY HAS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ATHLETES

Ming Wong

Lily Peña

Junior

"I play more sports, like summer softball and continue to work on cheer practices. I take tumbling classes weekly as well as going on a lot of walks and runs."

"I join the swim team club and go straight to waterpolo, and then I get a couple of weeks off, that's how I stay in shape."

STAYING in SHAPE

By Hailey Miles

cord it as a number.”

Senior Ky Barksdale, who is also a swimmer, and Whittier allude to the different capabilities of fitness trackers as owners of both an Apple Watch and a Fitbit, saying their Apple Watch provides them with more data.

“The Apple Watch will track my VO2 output, which is the number that can be applied to see general cardio fitness, whereas the Fitbit will not track that,” Whittier said, “so it’s much more in depth in the numbers that it allows you to track and what it allows you to see.”

From a coach’s perspective, Willard says that he wants athletes, whether they have a fitness tracker or not, to understand their capabilities while performing.

“Prior to wearing my fitness watch to sporting events I would judge my performance based on how it felt and how hard I was breathing and just how tired I was,” Whittier said. “Whereas now I can look at it and see the numbers and see if I feel tired because that workout was harder than other ones or if I feel tired because I’m out of shape. And so I’ve come to view my workouts in a much more statistical sense.”

How To stay Fit

1. Go To the gyM

Jada Cavazos-Ang Junior Coach Bryan Barker's TIPS On

"For the summer I go to the gym. I usually skip leg day and focus on the upper body and cardio."

WHAT ATHLETES DO TO REMAIN FIT OVER THE SUMMER

However, these statistics can have negative effects if used improperly. According to Willard, he sees people who use fitness trackers as a way to share their activity as unhealthy if they feel shame with posting about their inactiveness and using it as a way of comparison.

For Barksdale, she has personally experienced being on social media and comparing herself to different body compositions –something she believes has a negative effect on her.

“I’ll see people who work out like a lot versus very little, and I feel like somebody’s who's kind of in the middle,” Barksdale said. “And I feel like I definitely could work out more if I really wanted to.”

Willard says that having access to the data that a fitness tracker provides may be unhealthy for certain personalities and that it’s up to the individual on how they view and apply the information.

“It's a tool in a toolbox that helps motivate and organize training,” he said. “It’s wonderful for individual motivation but at the end of the day, hard work and DNA are probably going to be the factors that are most significant in success.”

JUNIOR

OJUNIOR SOUND FX AND EDITING SAM MCLAGAN

JUNIOR VIOLINIST MORIAH WINN

n stage Dorothy waves and helps the scarecrow up, while behind the curtain a frantic scurrying to get the Tin Man ready for his entrance, moving house sets, and playing all the overture music is taking place.

The world on stage is what actors dream of, but without the foundation of crews that work hard to keep the whole production together, nothing would be possible. Without technicians, pit orchestra musicians, or costume designers, where would famous musicals at West Albany High School be?

Scared of the dark? Stage crew isn’t. Scared of loud noises? The band isn’t. Scared of heights? The technicians up on the catwalk aren’t. Moving sets takes muscle and coordination. Imagine moving a witch’s castle or a house in the dark!

The amazing crew hustle between blackouts to move pieces that bring the scene to life in as few minutes as possible. They are always ready to move. As one set is going, they prepare for another as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“You help coordinate with the people in the cast to move [a set piece] so they don’t get hit,” freshman Drake Morvay said. Without sets or props, it’s more difficult to imagine where the scenes are taking place, but thanks to the stage crew they are able to bring the settings on stage to life.

Wires crowd the sound booth as music teacher Stuart Welsh and event technician students control volume and the screen that projects anything they desire. Lighting, video,

theTHAT APPEAR ON STAGE Behind

and every mic is controlled by West’s staff and students. Every mic in the pit and on actors is adjusted perfectly to where the audience will be able to hear. Students also are trained to place and take off the delicate microphones on actors as quickly as possible before they are rushed on stage. If there is something wrong with lights, or a projection isn’t up, the tech crew rushes to the rescue, trying to figure out how to fix the problem.

Costume changes are hectic, going from an all tin costume to a normal person in the span of a few minutes is stressful, but helping put together and create over 50 costumes with repairs and adding or taking pieces away along with making sure the actors are comfortable within the short time of getting ready for the musical is a feat of its own.

scenes

HOW MUCH WORK IS PUT INTO CREATING SCENES

And what would a musical be without the music? The Pit gets together months beforehand to practice as a group the music that ranges in all instruments from brass and wind to string, and percussion. Getting together, students, volunteers, and the conductor provide the music from scene changes to when the audience is leaving.

One of the biggest roles in musicals in these crews only receive a little hand gesture from the cast at the end. Though some of these students such as junior Lileanna Johnson says, “I would like more [recognition] from fellow crew members and cast.” Even though the audience can’t see them, they are an important foundation for building up musical productions and plays. Thanks to the crews and pit, productions are able to be at the level they are with students, staff, and volunteers helping make them the best they can.

Junior Brynna Kenneke-Gritter plays percussion in the pit during a performance of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Stage crew and event tech members control backstage rope systems during a production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Commentary by Emi Ludlow Photography by Miles Wilson and Emi Ludlow

The FinalShow

SENOR AMELIE CROW has been part of the performing arts program ever since her 6th grade year, her most recent role being Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” “It’s always so supportive and fun. [...] I’ve never felt judged or anything like that,” Crow said. Crow’s favorite production she’s been a part of was “The Wizard of Oz.” If given the choice of the next production, Crow would choose “Legally Blonde.” Once graduated, Crow will miss the adrenaline and joy of performing on stage, and she is unsure if she wants to pursue the performing arts in college.

STUDENTS OF CLASS OF 2023 WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THEATER

THE DIRECTORS

Left

SENIOR ALYSSA STAFFORD

Class of

SENIOR LIBBY KLUTTZ has been part of the performing arts for quite some time, but only recently joined our school. “The environment is really, really good. Everyone is always welcoming, no matter the background. Everyone is just super nice and kind,” Kluttz said. Kluttz would recommend keeping a positive environment and to just try anything. Her favorite production is “The Wizard of Oz” because she was able to get a lead role and the people involved were really nice. If Kluttz were to pick the next production to be put on she would choose either “Beauty and the Beast” or “High School Musical.” Kluttz will miss all of the underclassmen she’s gotten to work with, and her plans for after high school is to attend OSU to major in music education and to hopefully return as a choir director.

2023

has participated in crew ever since their junior year. Stafford’s class recommendation is taking Event Tech or other drama classes. “If you are in the drama aspect of things, take drama teacher Cate Cafferella’s drama classes,” Stafford said. When participating in the performing arts there is an immense amount of stress and the workload becomes heavy. Stafford’s favorite production they worked on was last year’s Anastasia, and if they got the opportunity to pick the next production they would choose “Wicked.” Once graduated, Stafford writes that they would love to work behind the scenes of any event or production, almost like what the Disney crew does.

SENIOR SUMMER HACKSTEDT

has been part of the performing arts for the past 11 years starting with choir, then band seven years ago, and finally the theater department for the past two years. Hackstedt describes the environment made as stressful but very focused. The work gets done when people put in the work. Hackstedt says she will miss the community the most. There are so many different communities brought together to make productions happen and make everything run smoothly. Hackstedt’s favorite production would be this year’s “The Wizard of Oz.” “It’s because of how much went into it and the hard work that everyone did,” she said. If Hackstedt got the opportunity to pick the next produc-

Junior Adam Keeling and senior Amelie Crow (top) perform in “The Wizard of Oz.” Senior Kaylie-Jo Robinson (middle) performs in last year’s “Anastasia.” Senior Libby Kluttz, junior Aiden Hanamoto, junior Porter Rose, and junior Adam Keeling (bottom) perform in “The Wizard of Oz.”

tion, she would love to see the “Adam’s Family.” Hackstedt currently has no plan to pursue theater after graduation.

SENIOR ELESA BRAMAN has been part of the performing arts for the past eight years. Braman did two school productions during her fourth and fifth grade years but later switched to band, her fifth grade year. While doing this years production of “The Wizard of Oz,” Braman described the environment as stressful at times and mostly exhausting, but at a general standpoint the environment was mostly positive. Braman’s advice to students is to “keep trying [...] even if you get put in a spot and you don’t feel like you should be, keep trying.” If Braman got the chance to choose the next production she would choose “Hocus Pocus.” Braman will miss the community and the people that shes gotten to spend so much time with already. Braman currently has no

GIVING THANKS

This year’s seniors would like to acknowledge fellow staff and students that have supported them on their journey to theatrical success.

Senior Amelie Crow would like to thank drama director Cate Cafferella, band director McFadden, and band director StuartWelsh, along with her fellow actors and actresses. Sophomore Charlotte Nicholas and fellow senior Kaylie-Jo Robinson stood out amongst the rest and Crow would like to acknowledge them.

Senior Alyssa Stafford would like to thank everyone who worked backstage on the musicals. Stafford says they are the reason the production went as smoothly as it did. Stafford would also like to thank all the directors that work here.

Senior Summer Hackstedt would like to thank all the directors. Hackstedt would constantly see them running around the building to get to one place to another to make things run smoothly.

Senior Libby Kluttz would like to thank Cafferella because she put in so much work into the schools theater department. Kluttz would also like to thank assistant director Trish Wagner because she was doing all the behind the scenes work for this years production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Senior Elesa Braman would like to thank Welsh and all the teachers that put in the time and effort to make everything perfect. Braman says that band director Stuart Welsh pushed her to be even better then she thought she could be.

solidified plan to pursue performing arts because of the commitment it entails, but she would like to join an ensemble if given the opportunity.

to Right: Drama Director Cate Cafferella, Band Director Stuart Welsh, Band Director Brian McFadden

Story by Kayla Stefan Photos by Miles Wilson and Lily Peña

Senior Elesa Braman Senior Amelie Crow Senior Libby Kluttz Seniors Alyssa Stafford and Summer Hackstedt

This Age of Adolescence

THE DEFINING MOMENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2023’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Check out this Senior Spotlight video featuring seniors Sophia Hanson, Lynnie Underwood, Garrett Lee and Katarina Schoening

Illustration by Mika WInder

dolescence

HOW DID THIS YEAR MEASURE UP TO WHAT SENIORS EXPECTED?

Amelie Crow

“I expected to be more stressed about college. Everything was pretty easy, and I didn’t have very many classes. I had a lot of resources to figure out college, and it made it a lot easier...I’m a lot more relieved than I thought I would be.”

William Summit

“[This is] not really [what I expected]... I was hoping I’d go into senior year with better grades and a clear shot to graduating.”

Lola Berdos

“I didn’t really have any expectations. I like having a senior all night party and all [of] the fun experiences.”

Amelie Crow

Senior Amelie Crow has one older brother. “We’d always make games in our yard together. We would play baseball using the corners of our yard and then we’d invite the neighborhood kids over,” crow said. A smell that sticks out from her childhood would be cherry chapstick. “Any cherry chapstick just smells like my childhood,”Amelie said. Her favorite vacation from her childhood was going to Disneyland. “My mom is a Disney adult, so we go to Disney all the time. I love it. My favorite time was probably when I was 3 or 5.” When rembering her favorite toys from childhood, crow stated, “Normally Polly Pockets and Barbies would be my go to and Littlest Pet Shop too I had a ton of those.”

CMiles Wilson

Senior Miles Wilson has an older brother and younger twin sisters. “ We played on the Wii all the time. The annual trips to Montana were always fun too.” Wilson said. Overall, what makes Wilson feel nostalgic are Big Time Rush, Minecraft and Wii Sports Resort. “I had Minecraft on my Kindle Fire 11 years ago. I’ve been playing Minecraft longer than some fans have been alive.” Wilson says his favorite vacation was going to Hawaii. “Hawaii was our last family vacation because we knew it was probably the last time my grandad would be able to travel,” He watched Cars, “Wall-E” and “Big Time Rush” wilson said, when he was younger.

Lauren Williams

Senior Lauren Williams has a younger sister. A big part of her childhood was also the Wii and playing Just Dance all the time with her younger sister. “We played with the Wii a lot” and also “Watching Barbie movies with my sister.” One of Williams’ favorite childhood memories is “going to Black Butte or Eagle Crest with my family for vacation.” She said that a smell that would describe her childhood was lemons. A genre of music that she heard during her childhood is metal, “Like 80’s 90’s rock and metal.” Williams said she still listens to music like this today.

hildhood Rewind

SENIORS LOOK BACK ON THEIR MOST NOSTALGIC PHOTOS AND

Graduating high school and growing up can be very bittersweet for some people. It can be exciting to figure out what you want to do and who you are, but it can often be sad to let go of your childhood. Nostalgia is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to some past period. Moving on to the next stage of life can warrant reflection on one’s past and what shaped them to be

2004

Disney and Pixar released “The Incredibles”

Nintendo sold 26 million units of the Wii

2007

2010 The Billboard single of the year is TikTok by Ke$ha

The robotic dog toy “Zoomer” was toy of the year

2013

2016

Disney channel’s “Bizardvark” premiered

The New England Patriots got their 6th Superbowl win 2019

2021 People showed their pets at virtual school on Zoom

the person they are.

Scents, movies, songs, pictures, and objects can all evoke that wistful feeling and bring someone back to the past. These six seniors shred what makes them nostalgic as they graduate and look back on their childhoods

“Anything at Claire’s in general makes me nostalgic. I was very much a Claire’s kid.”

SENIOR AMELIE CROW

Story by Mina Clower, Taylour Veith, and Cadence McAllaster and Photos used with permission of Amelie Crow, Miles Wilson, Lauren Williams, Alyea Boland, Kyler Wolfe, and Ava Remington

Alyea Boland

Senior Alyea Boland is the third oldest out of her 10 siblings. “I only live with one of my siblings, Emma,” Boland said. She didn’t have the childhood everyone thinks of because she grew up in a foster home, moving around a lot and not getting adopted until she was eight. One of her favorite memories was when “seven of [her] sibling got together for a birthday party at a pizza parlor after years of not seeing each other,” Boland said. She stated that she didn’t have any favorite shows as a kid since she never got to choose what was on, saying, “It was usually just Dora the Explorer.” Her favorite vacation as a kid was going to Universal with her family. “It was pretty cool and my family is full of Harry Potter nerds,” said Boland.

Kyler Wolfe Ava Remington

Senior Kyler Wolfe has one older brother. “One of my favorite childhood memories was playing Legos with my brother.” Wolfe said, “My grandpa had an Atari that my brother and i played games on.” One of Wolfe’s favorite TV shows when he was a kid was Gravity Falls. “Even though it was a kids show, it actually had a story to it,” Wolfe said. “Like an element and paranormal stuff, made it interesting. It was just a very funny and enjoyable show.” A smell that reminds him of his childhood is nature and says that “it smells like green.” But what makes Wolfe nostalgic? Well he says, “My trip to Hawaii, I don’t remember what island, but at night we would go and catch frogs.”

“I still have my stuffed animal and I sleep with her every night.” SENIOR AVA REMINGTON

Senior Ava Remington has an older and younger brother. They often will go on hikes as a family. “We played Super Smash Bros a lot. That’s another fun memory with my brothers, playing video games on the Wii,” said Remington. A smell that would describe her childhood would be her grandma’s raspberries. A song that sticks out from her childhood is “The Devil went down to Georgia.” “My dad had a CD with a bunch of songs on it, and that was one of them,” Remington said. Her favorite vacation was a camping trip to Washington. “I can’t remember what it was called, but it was a great beach and very beautiful, I had a great time,” said Remington.

WE SURVEYED 85 SENIORS TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT ADOLESCENCE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Growing Up & Giving Back

By

How did you discover your job and what pushed you toward it?

I help [police officers] learn how to interact with “bad guys,” civilians, and how to operate in their line of work. I discovered this job because my dad works with the Albany Police Department and he found out about the job opening and knew that I was looking for a job, so I applied and got the job. It’s a lot of fun, and I love it so much.

If you could think back to what you wanted to do when you were younger, and then think of what you’re doing now, do you think that it correlates?

When I was younger, I wanted to be a detective and I like this job because it’s fun. I get to play the role of the bad guy and the good guy, so it gives me a really different perspective as to how people interact with police officers and how police officers should work. There have been times where a police officer made me uncomfortable, but I am able to tell them right then and there, “Hey, what are you doing? Don’t talk to me like that,”

HOW SENIORS ARE WORKING TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES

and that usually makes them back off.

What was a memorable experience from this job?

There was this one day where the scenario was High Risk Stops and I was the passenger. There were six police officers at the time, so we went through two rounds of the scenario and the actors were directed how they had to behave during the scenario. During the second round, I did as I was told to by getting out of the car and yelling and provoking the police officers. As soon as I did, the police officers started yelling at me like, “Put your hands down” or something like that. Then I suddenly hear a “bang bang bang”.

I ran back into the car and was wondering what happened. I hear the gunshots but I don’t see any. I didn’t think the police officers were firing, so I was really confused. I saw the other role player had a gun right on his lap and asked him if he was the one who was shooting. He said, “Yeah.” Later, I found out that the shots were blanks and that the instructors forgot to tell me that they were going to use the prop gun. It was really funny afterward, but my heart was racing at that moment.

SENIOR EMILY BERNT WANTS TO WORK IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD, SO OUTDOOR SCHOOL WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR HER

SENIOR MIA CAVAZOS-ANG WORKS AT THE SALEM POLICE ACADEMY AND HELPS POLICE OFFICERS TRAIN FOR REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS

How did you discover your job and what pushed you towards it?

I got an email from an administrator and they asked if I wanted to be part of the district’s high school counselors for Outdoor School because they knew that I want to pursue a career in early childhood development, and I am hoping to work with kindergartners through 5th grade in the future. I thought it would be really interesting as high schools don’t really offer the opportunity to work with middle schoolers very often.

If you could think back to what you wanted to do when you were younger, and then think of what you’re doing now, do you think that it correlates?

100%. I knew that I wanted to work with kids. I knew that I wanted to help people and I wanted to have fun doing it. I feel like all of those things applied to Outdoor School.

Senior Mia Cavazos-Ang poses for a BeReal at the end of her shift at the Oregon Police Academy. She took this selfie after acting in a domestic abuse scenario.

Senior Mia Cavazos-Ang takes a photo with her father, Carl Ang, who works as an instructor at the Oregon Police Academy. Cavazos-Ang was playing the role of an adult in custody in a correctional facility.

What was a memorable experience from this job?

There was a point where we were looking into binoculars and watching birds. Suddenly, there was this kid that said, “It looks like VR (virtual reality glasses).” It made me realize that a lot of kids haven’t experienced nature in that capacity… Things like touching dirt and rolling around in the grass is so foreign to these kids, they’re so removed from it… It really changed my worldview that it’s important to nurture them in nature, in any environment really, and to teach them.

Would you recommend this job to other people?

I feel like the business, itself, and the administration need to get their act together in regards to communication, service, and the campsite itself, but I’d definitely say more people should become a part of this in the coming years.

All sixth graders in GAPS attend Outdoor School at this camp in Silver Creek Falls.

Avneet Dhaliwal, Photos used with permission of Mia Cavazos-Ang and Emily Bernt

Starting From The Bass Line

Written by Marshall Hamel

For as long as I care to remember, playing bass has been a major part of my life. Since I started playing six years ago, it’s really been the only thing I’ve stuck with throughout my high school career.

I started playing in seventh grade when I got a bass guitar for my 12th birthday, and I just continued. I can remember doing my first jam session. It was just the beginning of freshman year, and I was looking for people

to start a band with when I heard about a guitar player named Billy France-Bagwell, who could shred.

Now, I was an awkward freshman trying my hardest to be cool, trying to get to know a sophomore, and I did a lot of cringeworthy things, as freshmen tend to do. Despite my insufferableness, it all turned out okay. We ended up jamming at my place for probably six or seven hours. Boy could he shred.

HOW THE WHIRLWIND STAFF SENIORS HAVE REFLECTED ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

By Mollie Brown

Am I Legend?

Written by Legend Engberg

This year has gone by so fast. High school has gone by fast, but this year has gone by the fastest and to be honest, I’m happy it has. I welcome college.

DESPITE MY INSUFFERABLENESS, IT ALL TURNED OUT OKAY “

so long that after a while, I was like, “Man, when’s this guy gonna go home?” After all, it was the first time that I’d ever even hung out with him. He stuck around like a stray dog on a meat truck. We just kept on jamming, with our amps cranked up to 10. In a way it was eye opening, not only musically, but to who I was as a person and what I wanted to do.

It went on for

Stepping IntoOurselves

It seemed like only last week it was my first day of freshman year, which I don´t even remember, really. That year was a complete blur, but what I do remember was it being a festering pile of trash. I had no social skills at the time, I was too quiet, and

For the first time in my life up to that point, I was able to engage in something that I was truly passionate about while hanging out with another person. I felt that connection, that spark that music brings, as cheesy as that sounds. To this day, we still jam every now and then,

I hated everyone, including myself. It truly felt like an extension of middle school. It was horrendous and I couldn’t tell one day from another.

Then Covid hit. The routine I had built up from school over the past five years at that point just vanished. Now it was replaced with all these assignments, which were easy and quick to do, so I had time to think about myself.

“What did I want to be? Who did I want to be? How did I want people to remember me?” I said sometimes out loud.

I decided to be a football player. Sophomore year I signed up, traded in my jogging for push-ups, and became a lineman. I hated it, started working out from time to time, and tried something new.

My junior year I tried out an array of different clubs: Environmental club, Philosophy club, Improv club, Investment club, Youth and Government and Black Student Union, just to find

some kind of niche. Along with journalism, only a few of those clubs followed me to my senior year.

except now we get to play with the best drummer around, albeit far less frequently considering that Billy has since graduated and is now attending college at Western Oregon.

But I’ll always look back, not just on the good memories of being in a band with Billy, but also just on how bass had such a tremendous effect on my life and who I am today. If it wasn’t for bass, I don’t really know what my life would be like. If there’s anything I hope you can take away from this, it would be to find something you can experience with someone, whether it’s an impromptu jam session, a hike in the mountains or whatever you may possibly find yourself doing, it is absolutely worth seeking out these organic authentic connections and experiences. Find your passion. Find your people. Feel your presence in the moment.

My original plan this year was to be the most social I have ever been. I wanted to go to every social event, every dance, participate in things like powder puff and air guitar, and not miss out on friends for studying. Though this conflicted with my other goal, which was to take classes outside my comfort zone. Classes like AP Government, a topic which I had always struggled with and AP Art, a topic which I had always enjoyed, were my top choices. Though, I never anticipated how hard it would be to balance these two goals out. I wanted it to be an eventful year, but it ended with me not being able to enjoy time with my friends.

I feel like the goals for this year were just another attempt to try to find my place, my niche again. Was I a social goer brave enough to

You Can Love Your Friends

Written by senior Joe Wagner

Ilove people. I really do. Anything I’ve ever accomplished has been a result of the people around me. I don’t believe that on my own I would have or could have reached this point of my life.

I’m a lazy person, especially senior year, I’m not normally the person that takes the first step. When my family is getting ready to leave the house, I’m the last person out of the house because I was the last person out of my chair. Or when it comes to assignments at this point of the year, all I can think about is how those few extra points really can’t matter that much.

But then my Stepmom, or honestly my Mom because she’s worked so hard to earn that title, gets after me like NOBODY ELSE because she values my education so much, and wants me to succeed as much as possible.

Then there’s my Dad, who seems to value my efforts more than anything in the world. And gets emotional when I forget to tell him about any event that even remotely celebrates me because he wants to be there for me.

stand in front of my peers or an intellectual who could succeed at the subjects he loves and also hates? Am I both? I don’t know. Am I neither? I don’t know that either.

High school has just felt like a

My wrestling coaches come soon after, who never stop believing in me. Bryan Barker, Casey Horn, Carson & Wyatt French, Isaac Wetmore, Butch Lindberg, Mitchell Sorte, Mike Burner, Miranda D’Agostini, SOMETHING Walters, and Mamma Jean.

No matter how weak I thought I was or how badly I wanted to give up. They supported me. Whether that support meant literally throwing me around to teach me something new, or yelling encouragement at me on the mat or in the practice room. They made me feel like I could get through any conditioning.

Balmeo and the Whirlwind staff. Even though I have ruthlessly gutted every deadline without mercy, I have never felt like I didn’t have a place to be on staff. Every single person there is ready to help one another, and I don’t think I could have found a better place to spend the majority of my time.

And literally every other person who has ever taught me something, told me that whatever thing I was saying was hurtful, or to listen to a new playlist, someone that said “hello” to me on a bad day — all the tiny little lessons that prove there is something new to learn everyday.

I know I would have never gone to the library to learn this stuff. I can only be thankful.

Better Things

Written by Hailey Miles

I’ve never felt like I’ve belonged at this school. I don’t want to be all cringey and say I’m different from others and that I’ve never fit in, but it’s the truth. The people I’ve grown up with since the earliest stages of elementary school feel like complete strangers to me.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but it’s a common misconception that there aren’t social groups at school. I’ve gone to many school events and have sat in classes with the same people for four years and they always sit with the people that are like them and never seem to extend beyond that. We are so secluded in our own groups, there was never that bond or connection that everyone said there would be. Many of us will walk at graduation with these people we have been going to school with and not think twice about them afterward.

When I think about school, I don’t think about what I’ve

guessing game of “Who am I? Where do I belong, and what are my limits?”

I’m just hoping college has the answers to those questions because right now, I still feel blind.

Even with four years of experiences from different clubs and hanging out with a variety of people, I still don’t know who I am. I still don’t

learned, all the friends I’m going to miss, and the teachers who inspired me. I’m going to think about how out of place I felt. I don’t have positive memories about my classes. School felt like nothing but a forced requirement so my mom didn’t go to jail for my absences. Every day I attended I was reminded of how much I disliked myself and felt dumb while watching my peers work harder than me and get into classes and colleges.

Despite not even wanting to go, it still hurts that my life wasn’t as set as most of my peers. I was definitely at a disadvantage. High school is, quite frankly, one big competition full of egos controlling what we do, who we put ourselves around, our social class, etc. Most high schoolers put forth extreme effort into being cool and liked rather than being who they truly are.

I started Journalism my sophomore year during COVID. I was hesitant at first to say if I liked it or not because I didn’t know anybody and it was even harder to connect with people on Zoom calls. When junior year came and we were all in person, Journalism became one of the only things that made me happy going to school. I made so many new friendships and discovered a passion for writing and designing.

The other students in the class made me feel like I belonged and helped me so much along the way despite my slow learning. It’s been a safe space to go to for the past three years, somewhere I could go anytime to do homework or just talk with the others. I can say now, something I couldn’t say as a freshman, the only thing I’m going to miss about this dreadful school is the Journalism room.

know where I fit, and you might not know either, but that’s fine. I’m 18, legally an adult, not sure mentally though, and I’m still trying to figure out who I am.

So try new things and search for your place, but still enjoy the time with your friends when you can. Find a balance between trying to figure

out yourself on your own, but also with your friends. The worst thing anyone can do is give up, whether that’s academically, socially, or self experimentally. Just don’t do anything illegal.